Ice-cutting machine.



J. H. FISCH.

ma cuTTmG wmcumz.

APPLlCATION FILED IULYI6,1915- 1,182,159 Patented May 9,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I. w Q A Inventor;

Attorneys.

J. H. FISCH.

ICE CUTTING MACHlNE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16. 19:5.

Patented May 9 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses Attorneys.

J. H. FISCH. ICE CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 16. 1915- Patented May 9,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides 1n the com- JAMES H. FISGH, 0F BARNE SVILLE, MINNESOTA,-ASSIGNQR T0 'FERGUS FALLS ROTARY ICE PLOW COMPANY, OF FERGUS FALLS, MINNESOTA.

ICE-CUTTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1916.

Application filed J 1113; 16, 1915. Serial No. 40,279.

1,039,718, issued November 28, 1911 and October 3, 1912, respectively.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved guiding device for the machine, and means whereby the guide bladeswhich are adapted to run in the kerfs in the ice, may be'raised so that the machine may be steered to one side or the other readily.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means whereby the tractor wheel may be forcibly depressed into engagement with the ice. l

A further object of the invention is the provision of pontoons or rafts for the frame of the machine, whereby the pontoons may normally be carried by the frame above the ice, and in order that the pontoons will support or carry the machine should the ice break. i

It is also within the scope of the invention to improve the transmission gearing between theenglne and tractor device.

WVith the foregoing and other 0l)]6(313S 1n bination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made withinthe scope of what is claimed without departing from-the spirit of the invention. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein I Figure 1 is aside elevation of the improved machine, the pontoons being detached. Fig. Qis a perspective view illustratingthe steering. and guiding mechanism detached from the remainder of the machine, forpurpose of clearness. Fig. 3 is a reduced end view illustrating the pontoons attached to the machine, the view' being diagrammatical in nature. Fig. 4: is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately on the line le of F ig. 1. Fig. '5 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately on the line 55 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the pontoons or rafts.

Since the present machine is an improvement of the machines disclosed in the above mentioned patents, and embodies the general and some specific features of the said machines, reference is had to the said patents to assist in the understanding of the construction and operation of the present machine, it being thought unnecessary to enter, into a detailed description of every part of the machine, since this would be an unneces' sary repetition, and is not essential to an understanding of the improved features presented in this application.

The machine comprises a. suitable frame 1 carrying at its forward end an internal combustion engine 2, the crank shaft of which has a combined friction disk and fly wheel 3 with which a friction wheel a cooperates to provide the means for changing the speed and direction of propulsion of the machine. The friction wheel f is centered upon an inclined or oblique shaft'5 disposed at one side of the frame and jou'rnaled in any suitable manner to the frame, and an actuating device 6 is provided for shifting the friction wheel l upwardly and downwardly upon the shaft 5 to vary the speed of the machine,

and to reverse the direction of propulsion is fulcrumed at its lower end upon the shaft 9, so as to be ca able of vertical swin in i b movement. The rear or free end portion of the frame 10 carries a transverse tractor shaft 11 [upon which the toothed tractor wheel 12 is mounted, a sprocket wheel 13 being keyed upon the shaft 11, and having a sprocket chain 14 trained thereover. The sprocket chain 14 passes around a sprocket wheel 15 keyed upon the shaft 9, whereby 'the shaft 9 being rotated by the shaft 5,

will rotate the tractor wheel 12. V

The means for raising-and lowering the tractor embodies a yoke 16 terminally j ournaled to the shaft 11, and a connecting rod I pivoted to an arm 18 of a rock shaft 19 at 17 secured to the yoke at its lower end and its upper end. The transverse rock shaft 19 is journaled upon the frame 1 between the ends'of the frame, or above the tractor, and the shaft 19 is provided at one end and at one side of the frame with an arm 20,

'which is connected by means of a diagonal a or inclined connecting rod 21, with a bell pressing the tractor wheel 12 into engage- V ment with the ice, and whereby the machine will be properly propelled upon the ice, without danger of the machine slipping.

The forward end of the frame 1 is supported upon the forward steering runners 24 which are fulcrumed to the forward end of the frame, and a pair of rtmners 25 are attached to the central portion of the frame at the opposite sides to the tractor wheel 12, to assist the runners 24 in carrying the frame upon the ice. The tractor wheel 12 being disposed between the stationary runners 25, will enable the tractor wheel to properly propel the machine even when the machine is being turned or steered to one.

side or the other.

The steering and guiding mechanism embodies upstanding stems 26 carried by the steering runners '24 adjacent their forward and rear ends, and a pair of transverse links or bars 27 and 27 are engaged slidably upon the stems 26. The forward link 27 is slidable upon the forward stems 26, while the rear link 27 is slidable upon the rear stems 26, and the two links-27 and 27 will cause the runners 24 to swing simultaneously. The links 27 and 27 are depressed by means of coiled wire springs 28 mounted upon the stems 26 between the links and the upper ends of the stems, and guide blades 29 are pivotally and adjustably carried by the ends of the links 27 and 27 outside of the runners 24. The guide blades 29 project downwardly below the runners 24 to work in kerfs or cuts made in the ice eitherby the saw, or

, by a special kerf cutting device. The guideblades 29 in working in the cuts or kerfs serve to guide the machine properly along the ice, as will be apparent. I

In order that the operator can control the runners 24, for'steering the machine, an upright shaft 30 is journaled to the forward end portion of the frame and has a lower arm-31 which is connected by means of a connecting rod 32 to the rear link or bar 27, and the upper end of the shaft 30 has an arm 33 which is connected by means of a connecting rod 34 to the arm 35 of the steering post 36 carried by the rear end of the frame. hen the steeringpost 36 is oscillated by the operator standing upon the platform 23, the motion will be transmitted to the shaft 30, and this will result in the runners 24 being oscillated or angled for steering the machine.

A device is employed for raising the forward ends of the guide blades 29 out of the kerfs in the ice, when it is desired to steer the machine to one side beforereaching the ends of the kerfs, and to this end a transverse or horizontal rock shaft 37 is journaled to the forward end of the frame above the runners 24, andisprovided with for.- wardly projecting arms 38 connected by means of chains or flexible elements 39 to the forward link 27. The'rock shaft 37 has an upwardly projecting curved arm 40 which is connected by means of a bent connecting rod 41 to'a foot lever or treadle 42 journaled to the rear end of'the frame adj acent the platform 23. The operator by depressing the foot lever or treadle 42 can rock the shaft 37 toraise the chains 39, and which will raise the forward link 27 to carry the forward ends of the guide blades 39 upwardly out of engagement with the ice, and consequently, the runners 24 may be swung to guide the machine to one side since the forward ends of the guide blades 39 being raised out of the kerfs, enables the guide blades to readilymove to one sidewith the runners. 7

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of pontoons or rafts for the machine, whereby the pontoons may be carried by the sides of the machine spaced above the ice in their normal positions, and so that the pontoons will support the machine should the ice break or give way. To

this end, two pontoons or floats 43 are provided, they being disposed longitudinally at the opposite sides of the machine, and each pontoon embodies a crate or frame 44 containing a plurality of air tanks 45.

In order to attach the pontoons 43 to the sides of the machine, a pair of brackets or trusses 46 and47 is attached to the top of each crate 44 and project inwardly for attachment in any suitable manner to the frame 1 of the machine. The bracket or truss 46 which is preferably disposed fore most, projects horizontally, while the other or rear truss 47 is inclined inwardly, in order that when the inner ends of the brackets or trusses are attached to the frame they will be disposed in different horizontal planes, to prevent the breaking or snapping of the brackets or trusses when the machine is supported between the two pontoons. The brackets or trusses 46 and 47 are preferably of triangular construction, and the brackets or trusses 46 have their base portions secured upon the crates 44, while the brackets or trusses 47 have one of their side portions secured upon the crates, so that the brackets or trusses will be positioned in the manner above indicated, and as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6.

In operation, it will be readily understood that the tractor wheels 12 being rotated will propel the machine over the ice, and that the saw 48 being rotated by the engine 2, and being lowered, will out the ice. The speed of the machine is controlled by shifting the friction wheel 4, and when it is desired to prevent the slipping of the tractor wheel 12, the treadle or foot lever 42 may be depressed for depressing the tractor wheel forcibly against the ice. The guide blades 29 working in the kerfs or cuts in the ice will guide the machine properly along the ice, and when it is desired to turn the machine to one side, after the saw 48 has been raised, the forward ends of the blades 29 may be readily lifted out of the kerfs by depressing the foot lever or treadle 42, and then by turningthe steering runners 24, the machine may be guided out of its normal path. It will be evident that when the forward ends of the guide blades 29 are raised, and when the runners 24 are swung, the guides blades will readily slide out of the kerfs and onto the top of the ice, the links 27 and 27 being yieldably carried by the normally be carried by the machine slightly above the ice, so as not to interfere with the ordinary operation of the machine. Should the ice break or give way, the machine will not sink to the bottom of the river, lake or other body of water, but the pontoons will carry the machine therebetween, and the machine may then be readily towed to safety.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In an ice cutting machine, a pair of steering runners, a link connecting and yieldably carried by the runners, a guide blade carried by the link, means for swinging the runners, and means for raising the said link.

2. In an ice cutting machine, a pair of runners, a pair of links connecting and yieldably supported by said runners, guide blades carried by the links, means operatively connected to one of said links for swinging the runners, and means for raising the other link to raise the guide blades.

3. The combination with an ice cutting machine, embodying a frame, of pontoons disposed at the sides thereof and attached to the frame to be normally carried above the ice.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signa ture in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES. H. FISGH. IVitnesses:

CHARLES, R. OLIVER, M. S. BANGLE.

monies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington. D. 0. 

